Southampton’s appeal against their expulsion from the Championship play-off final over the “spygate” spying scandal is rejected, leaving the punishment in place. After Southampton were removed from the final on Tuesday by an independent disciplinary commission, an EFL arbitration panel dismisses the club’s subsequent appeal. According to an EFL statement reported by multiple outlets, Southampton had admitted multiple breaches of EFL regulations, and the arbitration decision means the original sanction stands. As a result, the play-off final proceeds with different participants: Middlesbrough, who had been Southampton’s semi-final opponents and were beaten 2-1 in the semi-final, are reinstated. Middlesbrough now meet Hull City at Wembley on Saturday, with kick-off set for 15:30 BST, for a place in the Premier League. Several reports also note that Southampton’s expulsion is linked to additional consequences, including a points-related sanction for the following season, and that the fallout from the case continues despite the appeal outcome.